New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-19
FATAL FALL OF An ELEVATOR.
ONE WOMAN KILLED AND MANY HURT.
SEVENTEEN PERSONS IL CAR, BUILT FOR FREIGHT

SEVENTEEN PERSONS IL A CAR, BUILT FOR FREIGHT
ONLY, FALL THREE STORIES.
An elevator car, containing sixteen women and the
man IN charge OF it, fell from the third story TO the
basement OF G.. Sidenberg & Co.'S factory al No.
AZ Mercer ST. shortly before a. m. yesterday. One
of the women killed. another had her leg
broken several Others injured by tho fall while
the elevator had his back broken. The accident
caused so much excitement among the unhurt en-
plOyes in the factory that the firm gave them holt
dny. Exaggerated OF loss OF lite In the
elevator spread through the city and caused more
element than the accident warranted. The police
ascertained that person WAS to be blamed for the
tall OF car the breaking of wheel in the elevator
machinery having been the unexpected cause of the
accident.
About 300 women and girls have been employed in
the factory making collars cns, rulings other
fancy articles tor ladies' wear. The work rooms on
the upper floors large and comfortable and IL has
been the policy of the firm To guard the health OF the
employees in every reasonable way. For several years
The older women have had tho privilege OF riding up
and down on the elevator In the southeast end OF the
building. Tho elevator built by Otis Brothers
about fourteen years ago. and. although designed
freight elevator has been considered sale enough tor
passengers. The car iron cage with safety
gates on TWO sides. moved up and do vn the shaft by
a wire cable which pssses over "A drum connected
with the engine ia tho basement. Less than a week
ago the machinery was inspected by an inspector Of
the Buildings Bureau and pronounced In good order.
John O'Neil OF No 2l3 West Thirteenth st.. n couI-
petent man, age thirty-iiyc. In charge OF the
elevator He held license from the Buildings Bureau
TO run the elevator and also n licensed engineer.
Ii unusual for seventeen persons To rdc mp in
the car. Several loads OF equal weight were carried
up yesterday morning.
'0'Neh started with the last load of women about
7:45 m. When the had reached the laird story
a pinion wheel which regulated the move ments OF
the drum the basement suddenly broke. Tue drum
ut once stopped winding the wire cable aud began
to turn in the opposite direction unwnding the cable
and letting the fall down the shaft with Increasing
speed. II too< the car only second at most 10 so
down with n the basement and strike the floor
OF the shalt with a crash. Tie car rebounded few
feet and settled back To rest without breaking. AZ
the same time the swiftly revolving drum unwOund
all the cable and started to wind It up again sud-
denly that the cable was broken The car given
AN extra lurch when the oaDle broke II both the
safety gates oil the car had been down probably no
person in tue car would have been hurt seriousy.
Those who renamed in the car immediately alter the
fall estaped with slight injuries The gate on the
basement side was open, and the crowd oil women
surged toward the opening as the car ieI as the car
gave final urcb O'Neil and two OF the women fell
out into the basement. Mrs Jane Lynch. OF No 2b7
Mott-s tell against steam register and her skull
WA fractured She died Immediately from the injury.
O'Neil struck his back against the sharp edge Of
freight platform and his spine was broken. His legs
we're paralyzed when he removed 20 II. Nincents
Hospital aud the surgeons said late In the day that
he probably would die Lizzie Fogerty, of No. l76
Clinton place, Brooklyn, fell out alter ONefl and
broke her right leg close TO the ankle. The women
who renamed In the were fainting and screaming
when clerks down to the first hoor 10 assist them.
Several OF them had sprained ankles. and
planned OF pains Ia their backs resulting from the
shock Dr. Meehan. OF Broome-st who was called
in to examine them. said that all tn, injuries
slight and they sent to their homes. ] he adj
dresses OF the folio wing given TO the police
Mary Ring, No. 80 Jefierson-st ankle sprained
Mrs Jessie Bryers No. $50 FraukliD-st. GTeeDpoint,
ankle sprained Aurelia Lichtenber No. 40 Column
blast, back njuTed Margaret Moriarty No. III
Columbia 81 ok and sprained ankles; Mary
OShaugbuessy, NC. 81 BroOne-st lett ankle in
iured liusse and Fannie Van I asset No. $40 West
Sixte, nthsi. srrained ankles; Nettie Week No. 80
Sussexst. Jersey City, bruise'; Ellen McCabe, NO.
TIA " sshngtOn-st.. back injured Virginia Daily,
No. "A MarIoI-st., ankle sprainod.
Two ambulances were summoned by telephone
from ST. Vncenrs Hospital 10 remove ONcil and
Miss fogerty before the police learned of the accident
The body OF Mrs. Lynch carried to The Prince
Street Station, where II claimed by her husband
a Fourth-ave. car driver. Mrs. Lynch had been In
the employ OF G. sidcn6erg Co. for about fourteen
years. She fiity-Ive years old.
Employees OF Otis Brothers, who were sent TO repair
the elevator said The accident was unavoidable as
the wheel which broke did moi have any external signs
OF weakness. haw in the casting Was found at the
point OF fracture under the surface An agent of the
firm said that the ee gator did not have the perfect
safety appliances TO cheek the from falling which
are put on passenger elevators. AS the car was
iatended TO carry load OF 5000 pounds, the
dent could not be said 10 have resulted from over
loading. coroner Will make an investigation.